First elk hunt in the books.

[sasquatch]

Well my first elk hunt is in the books to be followed by many more. I hunted otc in colorado. Although I did not kill i had a blast. I at least got a response from a bull everyday, and came close to killing several times.

Once i got busted by an elk coming in silent after some blind "advertising" calling. It must have saw something because i had the wind right.

Another time i got close to a bull that i had going and i though i was on the same ridge as him but come to find out he was on the next over and by time i circled around and got back up where he was it was late in the day and he went silent.

The closest to killing was on a bull with 4 cows that i got going around 630 in the evening, i got him fired up and looking for me but due to the open fern flat he was in I couldn't get any closer than 100-159 yds without getting busted i believe, he was screaming and raking trees as i was trying yo close in but eventually he gave me a nervous grunt and after about 1 min of not seeing an elk after that he started moving off and as it was getting dark it was now or never, so i pushed the envelope real hard trying to make something happen and ended up getting busted. At one point i could have shot one of his cows but i couldn't do it as i figured i had a real good shot at killing him.

I think if i wasn't solo and had another shooter we may have got him but last minute the guy i was going with had something come up and couldn't make it.

All people i talked to out there that go there yearly said it was the slowest year they've seen in a long time though with the bugling and sightings so idk, maybe next year ill go back there or maybe try Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming for more elk and less people as there was a ton of hunters on horses that i had to work around.

One last thing, Paul, if you out there and read this i wanted to thank you again for helping me get off to a good start!

[ElkNut1]

Blake, that is an awesome first year elk hunt bud! I kid you not, guys can go for years what you accomplished in a few hard months, you are a very quick learner! I enjoyed meeting you this year & visiting with you, congrats on a great season!

ElkNut1

[sasquatch]

Thanks! Yea next year I'm gonna plan to go wherever i decide for 3 weeks and hopefully get it done.

Oh also, i wasn't there a whole day and heard

-they dont bugle here because of pressure

-they only bugle a little at night

-and also that they dont bugle here anymore they just grunt to communicate with each other lol

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, we here those same thoughts all the time! There's myths out there about non bugling elk & it's blamed on so many things from warm temps to predators! (grin) Fact is when the rut kicks into gear the bulls will flat bugle! It would take an act of God to stop them! (grin) Hunters get it into their heads that just because a bull has cows he should be defensive & bugling, this is not reality it's fantasy! Understanding what makes elk tick from day to day or week to week is what's important here for best results. Good luck to you!

ElkNut1